damned_bulletin | Landel's Institute: A Primer

Landel's Institute: A Primer

First, and most importantly: Do not go out alone at night, even if you are an extremely skilled fighter. There are monsters here that can and will kill you; be wary and be careful. It's best to go out as part of a team.

Second, though no less important than the first: Everything the staff members tell you is a lie. Your name*, your history, and your "family" are all lies if the staff tells you about them. Trust your own memories.

Third, we have a little monster problem on our hands at night. This is why you should not go alone at night. Take heed of what other patients have noted about the monsters. There is information about them here.

Fourth, we're all from different "worlds" and different timelines. No one, save Martin Landel, who runs this place, knows how or why we were brought here.

Fifth: If you need company at night, it's best to contact one of the club leaders. Homura-san leads the History Club, Maes Hughes leads the Cooking Club, and Hitsugaya-san leads the Arts and Crafts Club. They post here regularly regarding their missions and how they can be reached.

Sixth: Take note of your "name" and room number and give it to your allies. The staff members take people at night for what's known as a "CM-US Trial", where you're at their mercy. These have been announced over the intercom system; knowing your name can help others find you.**

Seventh: Patients have been known to be controlled by the staff at night, in a process known as 'Special Counseling'. Your friends can and will attack you if this happens; be careful and be cautious.

Eighth: The voice on the radio has proven itself trustworthy. Take the radio with you at night and listen carefully.

Ninth: It's possible for allies to go missing here. We don't know what happens in this case.

Tenth: [Copies of the roof map, first-floor map, and second-floor map are tacked here, with a note saying, "Maps courtesy of the Arts and Crafts Club, with the exception of the roof map, provided originally by the first voice on the radio - please leave them here for other patients."]

Eleventh: Some areas of the Institute are more dangerous than others after night falls. In particular, the Sun Room seems to be dangerous, as does the basement and the animal containment room.

Twelfth: Watch your back.

-- M.E.

* I've heard rare cases of patients being called by their actual names, but this doesn't seem to be a widespread occurrence.

** At one time, there was a list of patients' names being collected. However, the person behind the list deemed it too dangerous to keep it posted in such a public forum.

Addendum 1: It's possible to leave the Institute grounds at night; however, the monsters outside the grounds are more dangerous than the ones within.

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You can get away from the Institute at night, but you still end up back in your room. The monsters over the walls are even nastier, too.

Just thought I'd add that. :)

That's good to know. Thank you; I'll add that in.

Are they really? I wandered out there for perhaps half a night, maybe more, and found nothing more terrifying than a branch moved by the wind. Imagine that!

Oh, man. You serious?

You didn't hear anything... like, a horn? Or anything? Or wolves howling or hoof beats?

Yes, quite. Goodness, no. Once I thought perhaps I heard people, but other than that, I may have been strolling through the woods back home.

Is this for real? Ugh, what a pain. Thanks for the information though. If it's true, I'm sure it's helpful.

I'm afraid it's true.

Thank you. I.. I honestly don't know what to say about this place. I kept thinking it was some dream... Nevermind. Thank you again, this should prove quite useful.

I'm glad to be of assistance.

-- M.E.

Hey, how come some of us are called by our real names anyway? I mean, my name really is Wally West, and that's what the nurses call me, so is there some kind of reasoning behind that you think?

- Wally

I couldn't say without more information. It could be related to your occupation, perhaps? It doesn't seem like many of the people here are called by their real names, so...

-- M.E.

You know, maybe it's... *here the message becomes a messy scrawl, like he started writing something then scribbled all over it until nothing could be seen*

thanks

Hey, I just got here they've been calling me by my real name too, I didn't know they weren't supposed to. Maybe we have something in common? My job is... well, I'm a Super Hero

- Viewtiful Joe

I meant to ask you earlier.

When you say that the voice on the radio is reliable, do you mean Jill or her predecessor? Has Jill independently proven herself?

Jill's predecessor certainly proved himself, and I've seen nothing to indicate that she is less reliable.

Understood.

Do you remember who was assembling the collection of names? Did it list the names given by Landel, or a person's true name?

I went after one of Jill's clues and came up empty-handed, although there were a couple of nasty monsters waiting for us. The riddle was straight-forward enough to where I don't think we misunderstood, either.

Maybe we should ask how many people have had the same thing happen to them.

- Claude

Edited 2008-11-20 02:57 (UTC)

Were you with this group?

[arrow drawn to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned_bulletin/306501.html?thread=9017413#t9017413)]

Nope. This happened almost a week ago, I think. Anise was part of another group I ran into, though, and we worked together to fight off the monsters that attacked us.

[arrow drawn pointing to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned_bulletin/312340.html).]

I'm curious about this myself. If you wouldn't mind, could you answer the questions concerning your own experience(s)?

I am unsure as to the wisdom of openly discussing such matters in a public forum like this, so forgive me if I wish to remain anonymous.

To address your points in order:

1. I fully appreciate the need for a buddy system. I congratulate you on your sensibility.

2. This makes complete sense. The staff here are no doubt aiming to instill false attitudes and beliefs in the prisoners here, overriding our own believe systems and thought patterns, via a combination of identity-erasure and meticulously documented proof of our "real" personas. The set-up is extremely effective and I wouldn't be surprised if they had a staggering success rate. Cases of brainwashing on this scale are very rare. There should be some evidence as to where we are being held, aside from your erroneous theories.

3. Many people believe that monsters exist. However, this is simple ignorance and superstition at play. There is a logical explanation for everything, you just have to be willing to look for it. What you deem "monsters" are no doubt persons or animals under some outside influence, be it the brainwashing I have already discussed or some chemical. They may be physically deformed, and capable of feats beyond normal human or animal capacity - PCP, for instance, triggers an astounding level of strength even in individuals not known for their physical prowess - but that does not make them "monsters."

4. This is an erroneous conclusion, at best. While different "worlds," or "the multiverse" - to give it the name coined by popular science fiction writer Michael Moorcock - have been hypothesized in cosmology, physics, astronomy, philosophy, transpersonal psychology and fiction, particularly in science fiction and fantasy, and theoretical physicists have striven to prove their existence, research on the subject is spotty at best and nothing has been proven.

I feel no need to continue, as most of your other ideas are sound. Thank you for putting this together, and for copying out maps, though you'll understand if I'm a bit leery until you yourself have proven trustworthy. I am curious, however, why it is so difficult to escape, especially with such levels of organization as I'm told the prisoners here have - your "clubs," for instance. One young woman noted above that you "still end up back in your room" even if you escape the grounds? Barring mass hypnotism, such a thing seems highly improbable.

I understand your skepticism. I'm a man of science, and to be completely honest, it took seeing much of this for myself in order to believe it. It's a very hard thing to take at face value, and it's true that when one is faced with a situation, it's far easier to apply science to it than it is to look for supernatural or illogical explanations.

What I can say is that I've been here for quite some time, and I've done quite a bit of investigating. It's been quite difficult to make headway on a number of the points you've mentioned, however; there are a notable lack of items with addresses. One would think that the doctors' offices would have prescription pads with the address of the facility on them, but that isn't the case.

That said, it's certainly possible that there is outside influence on the creatures that appear at night; there is human experimentation that occurs, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that there is animal experimentation occurring. However, it doesn't account for everything - note the descriptions of some of the creatures. They're completely unlike any animals we know about.

I'm certainly aware that nothing has been proven as to the multiple world idea that has been hypothesized. I ask again that you look at other posts here. It's impossible for me to exist, having come from the year 2017, at the same time as a man from the 19th century. We do exist at the same time, and neither of us is delusional.

As much as I would like to be able to come to another conclusion, given the evidence, I've not been able to do so.

Edited 2008-11-20 01:42 (UTC)

You seem like a reasonable and intelligent man. But I am confident you must be missing something, as creatures such as the ones described simply don't exist.

One possible explanation is psychotropic drugs administered without our knowledge. Such substances can easily alter perception to the extent that one might observe a perfectly ordinary spider, for instance, as human-sized and rotting, as you have described. These drugs could even cause vivid hallucinations of creatures that have no basis in science at all.

As for multiple worlds... I hesitate to say it's impossible, as highly respected scientists are exploring such matters, but it is so improbable that it almost merits the term. It is possible that there are those here who are truly insane, or have partially succumbed to the brainwashing instituted by the staff.

It is impossible, however, for you to be from 2017, as I recall it to be 2006; and since I still appear to be the approximate age I was in 2006, I could not have been in a coma for 19 years or have any form of amnesia. And your friend from the 19th century... Well, there is a disorder that makes people believe they are historical or literary figures, but... I don't know what it's called. I'm not very good with psychology.

The problem with psychotropic drugs is in the dosing. There are people here that range in age from around 11 or 12 years old to their late sixties. The only ways to get the drugs into all of our bodies without our knowledge would be through the air, in the water, or in the food, and the former two methods don't allow for dosing that specific. The latter is possible, but since most patients eat the same thing - or have a choice between the same few things - I'd think it's prepared en masse, and in that case, again, it doesn't allow for dosing that specific. You'd either be overdosing or underdosing someone.

As for the time discrepancies: there is no logic to the times in which we're taken. I believe you when you say you're from 2006, but that doesn't make it impossible for me to be from 2017.

I'm sure a place as organized as this seems to be would have a method of controlling the dosage of something like that. The food would be the most likely way. Are all meals eaten buffet-style in the cafeteria? If so, you are correct in saying there would be difficulty in controlling how much one ate, but it wouldn't be entirely undoable.

Yes, actually. It does.

Dinner is served in individual portions in the patients' rooms.

You'll have confirmation of what is being said when night comes. I understand the difficulty of going against what is logical, but what you experience will be undeniable enough.

If you don't mind, I'd like to know what subjects you are good at.

Ah. Thank you.

I suppose I have to decide for myself if and when the evidence is compelling enough to believe these claims. And it will have to be... pretty compelling.

I have a doctorate in forensic anthropology, along with training in kinesiology, I'm extensively traveled and have a knowledge of world culture, and I'm polylingual, amongst other things. Actually, there are many areas in which I excel.

Are you asking this to take a survey of the general talent base available here, or for your own curiosity, or some other reason?

Undoubtedly. Any rational person would expect you to do just that.

That's an impressive resume, Doctor.

Something of all three. I'd be willing to go in to greater detail, but it would have to be in person. Perhaps tomorrow some time, after you've had a chance to make your decisions.

Subcutaneous implants might work, and I'm still inclined to agree that some of it's dope. But:

1. Lack of side effects. Fuck with the system like that and there's a biological debt to pay.
2. If they're drugging us, last night would have been a hell of a lot more fun. Voice of experience.

-- S.T.

P.S. 1988

[On the corner of the note, an arrow connecting between "more fun" and 'M.E.'s' note below has the annotation "no offense"]

Edited 2008-11-21 00:27 (UTC)

~~Well aren't you What the fu~~

Are you a lawyer?

I'd like to note that I've barely eaten anything the whole time I've been here.

- Johnny C.

No, I'm a forensic anthropologist.

Thank you for the information.

Hey! M.E.! You've been to the animal containment room? Or have you just heard about it?

What do you know about it?

[ :< face ]

I'm afraid I don't know much. It concerns me that such a place exists, and I'm concerned that people here who have pets - myself included - had their pets brought here as well, but if it's as dangerous as I've heard it is, then...I'm afraid there isn't much any of us can do.

-- M.E.

[blotch as though the pen had been left there for a few moments] But, we can't just leave them there, can we?! What do you think they do to them? I had two taken. They're not just pets! They're my babies!

[another blotch] If they were taken a few days ago, do you think there's still a chance they're okay or...?

[ :< face ]

I don't want to think too hard about what might be happening if they're there. I'm not one for false hope, but it's possible that they're all right. I can only hope they are.

I've yet to come across your babies. I'm still keeping an eye out for them. If I do find them, I expect payment. Bounty hunters don't do things out of the kindness of their hearts.

If you find my babies, I'll give you anything you want. Just name it. If I can do it, you'll get it.

[determined -looking face]

I like clients with deep money pouches. I'll take extra special care if I see them. Though, the more they bite me, the higher my payment will be.

[Copies of all the maps have been taken.]

Thank you very much for your information. It will be put to good use.

I'm glad I could be of assistance.

-- M.E.

Sometimes you get to see people from back home, but what they tell you is a lie, too. ~~No matter how much you wish it was true.~~ Some people might want to know that beforehand, too.

I'll add that in. Thank you.

-- M.E.

Have there been any reports of...things happening during the day?

I think my pillow tried to eat me.

- Johnny C.

I think someone else told me something like that. Are we sure about this? I mean, like when someone says they're from the moon or a "continent" or something, they actually are?

This cmus thing is news to me, though. What's the deal?

Just wanted to say, this is helpful and awesome. Thanks man! I'm gonna be finding this Dr. Landel guy and giving him a piece of my mind ASAP

~~When you say different worlds do you mean different movies? Uh, I guess that might not make sense if you come from them.~~ But like, you've got people from space in the future, and like from modern times and old-timey times, and cowboys and vampires and dinosaurs and robots? And does anyone have super powers that don't work out here?

- Joe
[signed with a big, fancy V]

What an interesting game.

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Landel's Institute: A Primer

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